Renovations to begin next month at medical centre, daycare in Ripley

Renovations are officially under way at the Ripley Medical Centre and the Ripley Y Child Care Centre.

The kick-off was held Wednesday afternoon with several dignitaries on hand to offer support for the provision of health care and child care in the village.

Working with Huron-Kinloss Township on this project, are the Kincardine Family Health Team, Dr. Jason Murray, the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey-Bruce, the County of Bruce, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) and the Province of Ontario.



Taking part in the kick-off for the renovations at the Ripley Medical Centre and Ripley Y Child Care Centre, are, in the back Cindy Tanner (left) of Bruce County; Tina Metcalfe of Bruce County; Candice Paul, YMCA; Cyndy Jefferson, YMCA; Pam Rantz, Kincardine Family Health Team; Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson; Huron-Kinloss CAO Mary Rose Walden; Christine MacDonald of Bruce County; and in front, Huron-Kinloss community services director Mike Fair (left), strategic initiatives director Michelle Goetz, mayor Don Murray; Bruce County warden Chris Peabody; and Michael Pahor of the NWMO; photos courtesy of Huron-Kinloss Township

The renovations will provide much-needed licensed child care spaces to service Ripley and the surrounding area, and provide the necessary updates to re-open the Ripley Medical Centre to doctors and other health-care professionals.

“This work at the medical centre demonstrate council’s commitment to bringing health care closer to home for our residents,” said Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Jason Murray and the Kincardine Family Health Team back into the facility!

“The additional licensed child-care spaces provided by the renovations come at a time when parents need quality, affordable child-care options. We are lucky to have the YMCA and our other child-care providers supporting families in Huron-Kinloss.”

Huron-Kinloss secured funding through the NWMO Near-Term Investment Fund, the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child-Care Start-up Grant, and from the Community Well-Being Reserve Fund, to complete this project.
 

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Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray (left) is joined by CAO Mary Rose Walden and community services director Mike Fair at the kick-off to the renovations
 

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“Increased access to medical and child-care services is important to all of us at the NWMO,” said Michael Pahor, site director for NWMO South Bruce. “We are very proud to be part of this important community initiative.”

“Through this investment, our government is partnering with the federal government to ensure proper supports are in place for residents of Huron-Kinloss,” said Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. “And this, in turn, will lead to benefits throughout the local community: more people can access quality child care close to home, more kids will be in a safe space where they can learn, socialize, and gain a sense of autonomy, and more parents can return to work and advance their careers. From all angles, this is very welcome news.”

The renovations will begin in April and be completed by July. During this time, the Ripley Y Child Care Centre will operate out of the Ripley-Huron Community Centre.

“Bruce County, as a service system manager, takes pride in ensuring that the licensed child care and Early Years system is collaborative, responsive, and accountable in meeting the current and long-term needs of families across the county,” said warden Chris Peabody. “We are excited to continue working in partnership with the YMCA of Owen Sound Grey-Bruce and the Township of Huron-Kinloss to support families in receiving high quality, affordable, inclusive, and accessible licensed child-care options.”

Once the renovations are complete, Dr. Jason Murray will resume seeing patients at the centre (when possible) and the Kincardine Family Health Team will circulate its health-care providers through the centre to see patients as well.

The county and township will continue to support the recruitment of early childhood educators through funding programs, training, and marketing efforts.

“This is a great example of what we can achieve when we get the right people around the table with the community’s best interests in mind,” said Huron-Kinloss chief administrative officer Mary Rose Walden. “I’m particularly proud to see this project come to life as I depart my role as CAO for the township.”



Gathering for the kick-off to the renovations in Ripley, are NWMO site director (South Bruce) Michael Pahor (left), Bruce County warden Chris Peabody, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, and Huron-Kinloss mayor Don Murray